Human endothelin converting enzyme-like proteins and polynucleotides encoding the same

ABSTRACT

Novel human polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences are disclosed that can be used in therapeutic, diagnostic, and pharmacogenomic applications.

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60/156,102 and 60/176,689 which were filed on Sep. 24, 1999 and Jan. 18, 2000 and a continuation of 09/667,373, filed Sep. 22, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,840 respectively, and are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

1. INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to the discovery, identification, and characterization of novel human polynucleotides encoding proteins that share sequence similarity with mammalian endothelin converting enzymes. The invention encompasses the described polynucleotides, host cell expression systems, the encoded proteins, fusion proteins, polypeptides and peptides, antibodies to the encoded proteins and peptides, and genetically engineered animals that either lack or over express the disclosed genes, antagonists and agonists of the proteins, and other compounds that modulate the expression or activity of the proteins encoded by the disclosed genes that can be used for diagnosis, drug screening, clinical trial monitoring, and the treatment of physiological disorders.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Endothelin converting enzymes cleave endothelin precursor protein to its biologically active product. Given the strong vasoconstrictive activity of endothelins and their importance in, for example, renal and cardiovascular pathogenesis, methods of modulating endothelin production and activity have been subject to significant scientific scrutiny.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery, identification, and characterization of nucleotides that encode novel human proteins, and the corresponding amino acid sequences of these proteins. The novel human proteins (NHPs) novel human proteins, and the corresponding amino acid sequences of these proteins. The novel human proteins (NHPs) described for the first time herein share structural similarity with animal endothelin converting enzymes. As such, the NHPs may be involved in regulating (i.e., directly or indirectly activating or inhibiting) endothelin activity in human cells and/or tissues. The described NHPs represent a new protein having a range of homologs and orthologs from a variety of species and phyla.

The novel human nucleic acid sequences described herein, encode proteins/open reading frames (ORF) of 255 and 883 amino acids in length (see SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4).

The invention also encompasses agonists and antagonists of the described NHPs, including small molecules, large molecules, mutant NHPs, or portions thereof that compete with native NHPs, NHP peptides, and antibodies, as well as nucleotide sequences that can be used to inhibit the expression of the described NHPs (e.g., antisense and ribozyme molecules, and gene or regulatory sequence replacement constructs) or to enhance the expression of the described NHP polynucleotides (e.g., expression constructs that place the described gene under the control of a strong promoter system), and transgenic animals that express a NHP transgene, or “knock-outs” (which can be conditional) that do not express a functional NHP.

Further, the present invention also relates to processes for identifying compounds that modulate, i.e., act as agonists or antagonists, of NHP expression and/or NHP product activity that utilize purified preparations of the described NHP and/or NHP product, or cells expressing the same. Such compounds can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of any of a wide variety of symptoms associated with biological disorders or imbalances.

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING AND FIGURES

The Sequence Listing provides the sequences of the described endothelin converting enzyme-like ORFs that encode the described NHP amino acid sequences. SEQ ID NO: 5 describes the a NHP ORF (SEQ ID NO:1) with flanking sequences.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The NHPs, described for the first time herein, are novel proteins that are expressed in, inter alia, human cell lines, and fetal brain, cerebellum, thymus, spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, trachea, kidney, liver, prostate, testis, thyroid, adrenal gland, pancreas, salivary gland, stomach, small intestine, colon, muscle, adipose, esophagus, bladder, cervix, rectum, and pericardium cells. The described sequences were compiled from gene trapped cDNAs and clones isolated from a human liver cDNA library (Edge Biosystems, Gaithersburg, Md.), as well as published sequences that did not represent or identify regions of the presently described proteins. Given the important physiological role of endothelin, endothelin converting enzymes have been subject to considerable scrutiny as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,736,376, 5,688,640 (describing recombinant expression and screening assays), U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,726 (describing inhibitors), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,869 (describing general methods of purifying such proteins), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention encompasses the nucleotides presented in the Sequence Listing, host cells expressing such nucleotides, the expression products of such nucleotides, and: (a) nucleotides that encode mammalian homologs of the described genes, including the specifically described NHP, and the NHP related products; (b) nucleotides that encode one or more portions of a NHP that correspond to functional domains, and the polypeptide products specified by such nucleotide sequences, including but not limited to the novel regions of any active domain(s); (c) isolated nucleotides that encode mutant versions, engineered or naturally occurring, of a NHP in which all or a part of at least one domain is deleted or altered, and the polypeptide products specified by such nucleotide sequences, including but not limited to soluble proteins and peptides in which all or a portion of the signal sequence is deleted; (d) nucleotides that encode chimeric fusion proteins containing all or a portion of a coding region of a NHP, or one of its domains (e.g., a receptor binding domain, accessory protein/self-association domain, etc.) fused to another peptide or polypeptide; or (e) therapeutic or diagnostic derivatives of the described polynucleotides such as oligonucleotides, antisense polynucleotides, ribozymes, dsRNA, or gene therapy constructs comprising a sequence first disclosed in the Sequence Listing.

As discussed above, the present invention includes: (a) the human DNA sequences presented in the Sequence Listing (and vectors comprising the same) and additionally contemplates any nucleotide sequence encoding a contiguous NHP open reading frame (ORF) that hybridizes to a complement of a DNA sequence presented in the Sequence Listing under highly stringent conditions, e.g., hybridization to filter-bound DNA in 0.5 M NaHPO₄, 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65° C., and washing in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 68° C. (Ausubel F. M. et al., eds., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. I, Green Publishing Associates, Inc., and John Wiley & sons, Inc., New York, at p. 2.10.3) and encodes a functionally equivalent gene product. Additionally contemplated are any nucleotide sequences that hybridize to the complement of the DNA sequence that encode and express an amino acid sequence presented in the Sequence Listing under moderately stringent conditions, e.g., washing in 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS at 42° C. (Ausubel et al., 1989, supra), yet still encode a functionally equivalent NHP product. Functional equivalents of a NHP include naturally occurring NHPs present in other species and mutant NHPs whether naturally occurring or engineered (by site directed mutagenesis, gene shuffling, directed evolution as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,458, herein incorporated by reference). The invention also includes degenerate nucleic acid variants of the disclosed NHP polynucleotide sequences.

Additionally contemplated are polynucleotides encoding NHP ORFs, or their functional equivalents, encoded by polynucleotide sequences that are about 99, 95, 90, or about 85 percent similar or identical to corresponding regions of SEQ ID NO:1 (as measured by BLAST sequence comparison analysis using, for example, the GCG sequence analysis package using standard default settings).

The invention also includes nucleic acid molecules, preferably DNA molecules, that hybridize to, and are therefore the complements of, the described NHP gene nucleotide sequences. Such hybridization conditions may be highly stringent or less highly stringent, as described above. In instances where the nucleic acid molecules are deoxyoligonucleotides (“DNA oligos”), such molecules are generally about 16 to about 100 bases long, or about 20 to about 80, or about 34 to about 45 bases long, or any variation or combination of sizes represented therein that incorporate a contiguous region of sequence first disclosed in the Sequence Listing. Such oligonucleotides can be used in conjunction with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen libraries, isolate clones, and prepare cloning and sequencing templates, etc.

Alternatively, such NHP oligonucleotides can be used as hybridization probes for screening libraries, and assessing gene expression patterns (particularly using a micro array or high-throughput “chip” format). Additionally, a series of the described NHP oligonucleotide sequences, or the complements thereof, can be used to represent all or a portion of the described NHP sequences. The oligonucleotides, typically between about 16 to about 40 (or any whole number within the stated range) nucleotides in length may partially overlap each other and/or the NHP sequence may be represented using oligonucleotides that do not overlap. Accordingly, the described NHP polynucleotide sequences shall typically comprise at least about two or three distinct oligonucleotide sequences of at least about 18, and preferably about 25, nucleotides in length that are each first disclosed in the described Sequence Listing. Such oligonucleotide sequences may begin at any nucleotide present within a sequence in the Sequence Listing and proceed in either a sense (5′-to-3′) orientation vis-a-vis the described sequence or in an antisense orientation.

For oligonucleotide probes, highly stringent conditions may refer, e.g., to washing in 6×SSC/0.05% sodium pyrophosphate at 37° C. (for 14-base oligos), 48° C. (for 17-base oligos), 55° C. (for 20-base oligos), and 60° C. (for 23-base oligos). These nucleic acid molecules may encode or act as NHP gene antisense molecules, useful, for example, in NHP gene regulation (for and/or as antisense primers in amplification reactions of NHP gene nucleic acid sequences). With respect to NHP gene regulation, such techniques can be used to regulate biological functions. Further, such sequences may be used as part of ribozyme and/or triple helix sequences that are also useful for NHP gene regulation.

Inhibitory antisense or double stranded oligonucleotides can additionally comprise at least one modified base moiety which is selected from the group including but not limited to 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xantine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

The antisense oligonucleotide can also comprise at least one modified sugar moiety selected from the group including but not limited to arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide will comprise at least one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group consisting of a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester, and a formacetal or analog thereof.

In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is an α-anomeric oligonucleotide. An α-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual β-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The oligonucleotide is a 2′-0-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6131-6148), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987, FEBS Lett. 215:327-330). Alternatively, double stranded RNA can be used to disrupt the expression and function of a targeted NHP.

Oligonucleotides of the invention can be synthesized by standard methods known in the art, e.g. by use of an automated DNA synthesizer (such as are commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, etc.). As examples, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides can be synthesized by the method of Stein et al. (1988, Nucl. Acids Res. 16:3209), and methylphosphonate oligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlled pore glass polymer supports (Sarin et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85:7448-7451), etc.

Low stringency conditions are well known to those of skill in the art, and will vary predictably depending on the specific organisms from which the library and the labeled sequences are derived. For guidance regarding such conditions see, for example, Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (and periodic updates thereof), Cold Springs Harbor Press, N.Y.; and Ausubel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y.

Alternatively, suitably labeled NHP nucleotide probes can be used to screen a human genomic library using appropriately stringent conditions or by PCR. The identification and characterization of human genomic clones is helpful for identifying polymorphisms (including, but not limited to, nucleotide repeats, microsatellite alleles, single nucleotide polymorphisms, or coding single nucleotide polymorphisms), determining the genomic structure of a given locus/allele, and designing diagnostic tests. For example, sequences derived from regions adjacent to the intron/exon boundaries of the human gene can be used to design primers for use in amplification assays to detect mutations within the exons, introns, splice sites (e.g., splice acceptor and/or donor sites), etc., that can be used in diagnostics and pharmacogenomics.

Further, a NHP gene homolog can be isolated from nucleic acid from an organism of interest by performing PCR using two degenerate or “wobble” oligonucleotide primer pools designed on the basis of amino acid sequences present within the NHP product disclosed herein. The template for the reaction may be total RNA, mRNA, and/or cDNA obtained by reverse transcription of mRNA prepared from, for example, human or non-human cell lines or tissue, such as prostate, rectum, colon, or adrenal gland, known or suspected to express an allele of a NHP gene. The PCR product can be subcloned and sequenced to ensure that the amplified sequences represent the sequence of the desired NHP gene. The PCR fragment can then be used to isolate a full length CDNA clone by a variety of methods. For example, the amplified fragment can be labeled and used to screen a cDNA library, such as a bacteriophage cDNA library. Alternatively, the labeled fragment can be used to isolate genomic clones via the screening of a genomic library.

PCR technology can also be used to isolate full length cDNA sequences. For example, RNA can be isolated, following standard procedures, from an appropriate cellular or tissue source (i.e., one known, or suspected, to express a NHP gene). A reverse transcription (RT) reaction can be performed on the RNA using an oligonucleotide primer specific for the most 5′ end of the amplified fragment for the priming of first strand synthesis. The resulting RNA/DNA hybrid may then be “tailed” using a standard terminal transferase reaction, the hybrid may be digested with RNase H, and second strand synthesis may then be primed with a complementary primer. Thus, cDNA sequences upstream of the amplified fragment can be isolated. For a review of cloning strategies that can be used, see e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

A cDNA encoding a mutant NHP gene can be isolated, for example, by using PCR. In this case, the first cDNA strand may be synthesized by hybridizing an oligo-dT oligonucleotide to mRNA isolated from tissue known or suspected to be expressed in an individual putatively carrying a mutant NHP allele, and by extending the new strand with reverse transcriptase. The second strand of the cDNA is then synthesized using an oligonucleotide that hybridizes specifically to the 5′ end of the normal gene. Using these two primers, the product is then amplified via PCR, optionally cloned into a suitable vector, and subjected to DNA sequence analysis through methods well known to those of skill in the art. By comparing the DNA sequence of the mutant NHP allele to that of a corresponding normal NHP allele, the mutation(s) responsible for the loss or alteration of function of the mutant NHP gene product can be ascertained.

Alternatively, a genomic library can be constructed using DNA obtained from an individual suspected of or known to carry a mutant NHP allele (e.g., a person manifesting a NHP-associated phenotype such as, for example, obesity, high blood pressure, etc.), or a CDNA library can be constructed using RNA from a tissue known, or suspected, to express a mutant NHP allele. A normal NHP gene, or any suitable fragment thereof, can then be labeled and used as a probe to identify the corresponding mutant NHP allele in such libraries. Clones containing mutant NHP gene sequences can then be purified and subjected to sequence analysis according to methods well known to those skilled in the art.

Additionally, an expression library can be constructed utilizing cDNA synthesized from, for example, RNA isolated from a tissue known, or suspected, to express a mutant NHP allele in an individual suspected of or known to carry such a mutant allele. In this manner, gene products made by the putatively mutant tissue may be expressed and screened using standard antibody screening techniques in conjunction with antibodies raised against a normal NHP product, as described below. (For screening techniques, see, for example, Harlow, E. and Lane, eds., 1988, “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor.)

Additionally, screening can be accomplished by screening with labeled NHP fusion proteins, such as, for example, alkaline phosphatase-NHP or NHP-alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins. In cases where a NHP mutation results in an expressed gene product with altered function (e.g., as a result of a missense or a frameshift mutation), polyclonal antibodies to a NHP are likely to cross-react with a corresponding mutant NHP gene product. Library clones detected via their reaction with such labeled antibodies can be purified and subjected to sequence analysis according to methods well known in the art.

The invention also encompasses (a) DNA vectors that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences and/or their complements (i.e., antisense); (b) DNA expression vectors that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences (for example, baculo virus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,336 herein incorporated by reference); (c) genetically engineered host cells that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences in the host cell; and (d) genetically engineered host cells that express an endogenous NHP gene under the control of an exogenously introduced regulatory element (i.e., gene activation). As used herein, regulatory elements include but are not limited to inducible and non-inducible promoters, enhancers, operators and other elements known to those skilled in the art that drive and regulate expression. Such regulatory elements include but are not limited to the cytomegalovirus hCMV immediate early gene, regulatable, viral (particularly retroviral LTR promoters) the early or late promoters of SV40 adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage lambda, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), the promoters of acid phosphatase, and the promoters of the yeast α-mating factors.

The present invention also encompasses antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies (including Fab fragments), antagonists and agonists of the NHP, as well as compounds or nucleotide constructs that inhibit expression of a NHP gene (transcription factor inhibitors, antisense and ribozyme molecules, or gene or regulatory sequence replacement constructs), or promote the expression of a NHP (e.g., expression constructs in which NHP coding sequences are operatively associated with expression control elements such as promoters, promoter/enhancers, etc.).

The described NHP or NHP peptides, NHP fusion proteins, NHP nucleotide sequences, antibodies, antagonists and agonists can be used in the detection of mutant NHPs or inappropriately expressed NHP for the diagnosis of disease. The NHP or NHP peptides, NHP fusion proteins, NHP nucleotide sequences, host cell expression systems, antibodies, antagonists, agonists and genetically engineered cells and animals can also be used for screening for drugs (or high throughput screening of combinatorial libraries) effective in the treatment of the symptomatic or phenotypic manifestations of perturbing the normal function of NHP in the body. The use of engineered host cells and/or animals can offer an advantage in that such systems allow not only for the identification of compounds that bind to the endogenous receptor for an NHP, but can also identify compounds that trigger NHP-mediated pathways.

Finally, the NHP products can be used as therapeutics. For example, soluble derivatives such as NHP peptides/domains corresponding to the NHPs, NHP fusion protein products (especially NHP-Ig fusion proteins, i.e., fusions of a NHP, or a domain of a NHP, to an IgFc), NHP antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies (including Fab fragments), antagonists or agonists (including compounds that modulate signal transduction which may act on downstream targets in a NHP-mediated pathway) can be used to directly treat diseases or disorders. For instance, the administration of an effective amount of soluble NHP, or a NHP-IgFc fusion protein or an anti-idiotypic antibody (or its Fab) that mimics the NHP could activate or effectively antagonize the endogenous NHP receptor. Nucleotide constructs encoding such NHP products can be used to genetically engineer host cells to express such products in vivo; these genetically engineered cells function as “bioreactors” in the body delivering a continuous supply of a NHP, a NHP peptide, or a NHP fusion protein to the body. Nucleotide constructs encoding functional NHP, mutant NHPs, as well as antisense and ribozyme molecules can also be used in “gene therapy” approaches for the modulation of NHP expression. Thus, the invention also encompasses pharmaceutical formulations and methods for treating biological disorders.

Various aspects of the invention are described in greater detail in the subsections below.

5.1 The NHP Sequences

The cDNA sequences (SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3) and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4) of the described NHPs are presented in the Sequence Listing. The NHP genes were obtained from a human liver cDNA library using probes and/or primers generated from human gene trapped sequence tags. Expression analysis has provided evidence that the described NHPs can be expressed in a wide range of human tissues as well as gene trapped human cells. SEQ ID NO:3 describes a full length ORF with flanking 5′ and 3′ sequences.

5.2 NHP Polypeptides

The described NHPs, NHP polypeptides, NHP peptide fragments, mutated, truncated, or deleted forms of the NHPs, and/or NHP fusion proteins can be prepared for a variety of uses. These uses include but are not limited to the generation of antibodies, as reagents in diagnostic assays, for the identification of other cellular gene products related to a NHP, as reagents in assays for screening for compounds that can be as pharmaceutical reagents useful in the therapeutic treatment of mental, biological, or medical disorders and disease.

The Sequence Listing discloses the amino acid sequence encoded by the described NHP genes. The NHPs each display a initiator methionine in a DNA sequence context consistent with a translation initiation sites, and have structural features characteristic of related endothelin converting proteins.

The NHP amino acid sequences of the invention include the amino acid sequences presented in the Sequence Listing as well as analogues and derivatives thereof. Further, corresponding NHP homologues from other species are encompassed by the invention. In fact, any NHP protein encoded by the NHP nucleotide sequences described above are within the scope of the invention, as are any novel polynucleotide sequences encoding all or any novel portion of an amino acid sequence presented in the Sequence Listing. The degenerate nature of the genetic code is well known, and, accordingly, each amino acid presented in the Sequence Listing, is generically representative of the well known nucleic acid “triplet” codon, or in many cases codons, that can encode the amino acid. As such, as contemplated herein, the amino acid sequences presented in the Sequence Listing, when taken together with the genetic code (see, for example, Table 4-1 at page 109 of “Molecular Cell Biology”, 1986, J. Darnell et al. eds., Scientific American Books, New York, NY, herein incorporated by reference) are generically representative of all the various permutations and combinations of nucleic acid sequences that can encode such amino acid sequences.

The invention also encompasses proteins that are functionally equivalent to a NHP encoded by the presently described nucleotide sequences as judged by any of a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, the ability to bind and cleave a substrate of a NHP, or the ability to effect an identical or complementary downstream pathway, or a change in cellular metabolism (e.g., proteolytic activity, ion flux, tyrosine phosphorylation, etc.). Such functionally equivalent NHP proteins include, but are not limited to, additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within the amino acid sequence encoded by the NHP nucleotide sequences described above, but which result in a silent change, thus producing a functionally equivalent gene product. Amino acid substitutions can be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved. For example, nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and methionine; polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine; positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine, and histidine; and negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

A variety of host-expression vector systems can be used to express the NHP nucleotide sequences of the invention. Such expression systems also encompass engineered host cells that express a NHP, or functional equivalent, in situ. Purification or enrichment of a NHP from such expression systems can be accomplished using appropriate detergents and lipid micelles and methods well known to those skilled in the art. However, such engineered host cells themselves may be used in situations where it is important not only to retain the structural and functional characteristics of the NHP, but to assess biological activity, e.g., in drug screening assays. Where, as in the present instance, the NHP peptide or polypeptide is thought to be a membrane protein, expression systems can be engineered that produce soluble derivatives of a NHP (corresponding to a NHP extracellular and/or intracellular domains, or truncated polypeptides lacking one or more transmembrane domains) and/or NHP fusion protein products (especially NHP-Ig fusion proteins, i.e., fusions of a NHP domain, e.g., ECD, ΔTM to an IgFc), NHP antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies (including Fab fragments) which can be used in therapeutic applications. Preferably, the above expression systems are engineered to allow the desired peptide or polypeptide to be recovered from the culture media.

The expression systems that can be used for purposes of the invention include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing NHP nucleotide sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing NHP nucleotide sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing NHP sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing NHP nucleotide sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter).

In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the NHP product being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of or containing NHP, or for raising antibodies to a NHP, vectors that direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited, to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., 1983, EMBO J. 2:1791), in which a NHP coding sequence may be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lacZ coding region so that a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, 1985, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109; Van Heeke & Schuster, 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264:5503-5509); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The PGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhidrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. A NHP gene coding sequence may be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter). Successful insertion of NHP gene coding sequence will result in inactivation of the polyhedrin gene and production of non-occluded recombinant virus (i.e., virus lacking the proteinaceous coat coded for by the polyhedrin gene). These recombinant viruses are then used to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells in which the inserted gene is expressed (e.g., see Smith et al., 1983, J. Virol. 46: 584; Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,051).

In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the NHP nucleotide sequence of interest may be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing a NHP product in infected hosts (e.g., See Logan & Shenk, 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3655-3659). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of inserted NHP nucleotide sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where an entire NHP gene or cDNA, including its own initiation codon and adjacent sequences, is inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional translational control signals may be needed. However, in cases where only a portion of a NHP coding sequence is inserted, exogenous translational control signals, including, perhaps, the ATG initiation codon, must be provided. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (See Bittner et al., 1987, Methods in Enzymol. 153:516-544).

In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen that modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products may be important for the function of the protein. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian host cells include, but are not limited to, CHO, VERO, BHK, HeLa, COS, MDCK, 293, 3T3, WI38, and in particular, human cell lines.

For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably express the NHP sequences described above can be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells can be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method may advantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the NHP product. Such engineered cell lines can be particularly useful in screening and evaluation of compounds that affect the endogenous activity of the NHP product.

A number of selection systems can be used, including but not limited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler, et al., 1977, Cell 11:223), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska & Szybalski, 1962, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:2026), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy, et al., 1980, Cell 22:817) genes can be employed in tk⁻, hgprt⁻ or aprt⁻ cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for the following genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler, et al., 1980, Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:3567; O'Hare, et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418 (Colberre-Garapin, et al., 1981, J. Mol. Biol. 150:1); and hygro, which confers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre, et al., 1984, Gene 30:147).

Alternatively, any fusion protein can be readily purified by utilizing an antibody specific for the fusion protein being expressed. For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allows for the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human cell lines (Janknecht, et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-8976). In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the gene's open reading frame is translationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consisting of six histidine residues. Extracts from cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni²⁺. nitriloacetic acid-agarose columns and histidine-tagged proteins are selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffers.

5.3 Antibodies to NHP Products

Antibodies that specifically recognize one or more epitopes of a NHP, or epitopes of conserved variants of a NHP, or peptide fragments of a NHP are also encompassed by the invention. Such antibodies include but are not limited to polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′)₂ fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies, and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above.

The antibodies of the invention may be used, for example, in the detection of NHP in a biological sample and may, therefore, be utilized as part of a diagnostic or prognostic technique whereby patients may be tested for abnormal amounts of NHP. Such antibodies may also be utilized in conjunction with, for example, compound screening schemes for the evaluation of the effect of test compounds on expression and/or activity of a NHP gene product. Additionally, such antibodies can be used in conjunction gene therapy to, for example, evaluate the normal and/or engineered NHP-expressing cells prior to their introduction into the patient. Such antibodies may additionally be used as a method for the inhibition of abnormal NHP activity. Thus, such antibodies may, therefore, be utilized as part of treatment methods.

For the production of antibodies, various host animals may be immunized by injection with a NHP, a NHP peptide (e.g., one corresponding to a functional domain of a NHP), truncated NHP polypeptides (NHP in which one or more domains have been deleted), functional equivalents of the NHP or mutated variant of the NHP. Such host animals may include but are not limited to pigs, rabbits, mice, goats, and rats, to name but a few. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, including but not limited to Freund's adjuvant (complete and incomplete), mineral salts such as aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum. Alternatively, the immune response could be enhanced by combination and or coupling with molecules such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin, tetanus toxoid, diptheria toxoid, ovalbumin, cholera toxoid or fragments thereof. Polyclonal antibodies are heterogeneous populations of antibody molecules derived from the sera of the immunized animals.

Monoclonal antibodies, which are homogeneous populations of antibodies to a particular antigen, can be obtained by any technique which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These include, but are not limited to, the hybridoma technique of Kohler and Milstein, (1975, Nature 256:495-497; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110), the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kosbor et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72; Cole et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:2026-2030), and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., 1985, Monoclonal Antibodies And Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96). Such antibodies may be of any immunoglobulin class including IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA, IgD and any subclass thereof. The hybridoma producing the mAb of this invention may be cultivated in vitro or in vivo. Production of high titers of mabs in vivo makes this the presently preferred method of production.

In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 81:6851-6855; Neuberger et al., 1984, Nature, 312:604-608; Takeda et al., 1985, Nature, 314:452-454) by splicing the genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. A chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions are derived from different animal species, such as those having a variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulin constant region. Such technologies are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,075,181 and 5,877,397 and their respective disclosures which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, 1988, Science 242:423-426; Huston et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; and Ward et al., 1989, Nature 334:544-546) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies against NHP gene products. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide.

Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated by known techniques. For example, such fragments include, but are not limited to: the F(ab′)₂ fragments which can be produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule and the Fab fragments which can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab′)₂ fragments. Alternatively, Fab expression libraries may be constructed (Huse et al., 1989, Science, 246:1275-1281) to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity.

Antibodies to a NHP can, in turn, be utilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic” a given NHP, using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. (See, e.g., Greenspan & Bona, 1993, FASEB J 7(5):437-444; and Nissinoff, 1991, J. Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438). For example antibodies which bind to a NHP domain and competitively inhibit the binding of NHP to its cognate receptor can be used to generate anti-idiotypes that “mimic” the NHP and, therefore, bind and activate or neutralize a receptor. Such anti-idiotypic antibodies or fragments of such anti-idiotypes can be used in therapeutic regimens involving a NHP signaling pathway.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein, which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. All patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

5 1 765 DNA homo sapiens 1 atggcctctc caggggcagg tagggcgcct ccggagttac cggagcggaa ctgcgggtac 60 cgcgaagtcg agtactggga tcagcgctac caaggcgcag ccgattctgc cccctacgat 120 tggttcgggg acttctcctc cttccgtgcc ctcctagagc cggagctgcg gcccgaggac 180 cgtatccttg tgctaggttg cgggaacagt gccctgagct acgagctgtt cctcggaggc 240 ttccctaatg tgaccagtgt ggactactca tcagtcgtgg tggctgccat gcaggctcgc 300 tatgcccatg tgccgcagct gcgctgggag accatggatg tgcggaagct ggacttcccc 360 agtgcttctt ttgatgtggt gctcgagaag ggcacgctgg atgccctgct ggctggggaa 420 cgagatccct ggaccgtgtc ctctgaaggt gtccacactg tggaccaggt gttgagtgag 480 gtgagccgcg tgcttgtccc tggaggccgg tttatctcaa tgacttctgc tgccccccac 540 tttcggacca gacactatgc ccaagcctat tatggctggt ccctgaggca tgctacctat 600 ggcagcggtt tccacttcca tctctacctc atgcacaagg gcgggaagct cagtgtggcc 660 cagctggctc tgggggccca aatcctctca ccccccagac ctcccacctc accttgcttc 720 cttcaggact cagatcatga ggacttcctt agtgccattc agctc 765 2 255 PRT homo sapiens 2 Met Ala Ser Pro Gly Ala Gly Arg Ala Pro Pro Glu Leu Pro Glu Arg 1 5 10 15 Asn Cys Gly Tyr Arg Glu Val Glu Tyr Trp Asp Gln Arg Tyr Gln Gly 20 25 30 Ala Ala Asp Ser Ala Pro Tyr Asp Trp Phe Gly Asp Phe Ser Ser Phe 35 40 45 Arg Ala Leu Leu Glu Pro Glu Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Arg Ile Leu Val 50 55 60 Leu Gly Cys Gly Asn Ser Ala Leu Ser Tyr Glu Leu Phe Leu Gly Gly 65 70 75 80 Phe Pro Asn Val Thr Ser Val Asp Tyr Ser Ser Val Val Val Ala Ala 85 90 95 Met Gln Ala Arg Tyr Ala His Val Pro Gln Leu Arg Trp Glu Thr Met 100 105 110 Asp Val Arg Lys Leu Asp Phe Pro Ser Ala Ser Phe Asp Val Val Leu 115 120 125 Glu Lys Gly Thr Leu Asp Ala Leu Leu Ala Gly Glu Arg Asp Pro Trp 130 135 140 Thr Val Ser Ser Glu Gly Val His Thr Val Asp Gln Val Leu Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Arg Val Leu Val Pro Gly Gly Arg Phe Ile Ser Met Thr Ser 165 170 175 Ala Ala Pro His Phe Arg Thr Arg His Tyr Ala Gln Ala Tyr Tyr Gly 180 185 190 Trp Ser Leu Arg His Ala Thr Tyr Gly Ser Gly Phe His Phe His Leu 195 200 205 Tyr Leu Met His Lys Gly Gly Lys Leu Ser Val Ala Gln Leu Ala Leu 210 215 220 Gly Ala Gln Ile Leu Ser Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Thr Ser Pro Cys Phe 225 230 235 240 Leu Gln Asp Ser Asp His Glu Asp Phe Leu Ser Ala Ile Gln Leu 245 250 255 3 2652 DNA homo sapiens 3 atggcctctc caggggcagg tagggcgcct ccggagttac cggagcggaa ctgcgggtac 60 cgcgaagtcg agtactggga tcagcgctac caaggcgcag ccgattctgc cccctacgat 120 tggttcgggg acttctcctc cttccgtgcc ctcctagagc cggagctgcg gcccgaggac 180 cgtatccttg tgctaggttg cgggaacagt gccctgagct acgagctgtt cctcggaggc 240 ttccctaatg tgaccagtgt ggactactca tcagtcgtgg tggctgccat gcaggctcgc 300 tatgcccatg tgccgcagct gcgctgggag accatggatg tgcggaagct ggacttcccc 360 agtgcttctt ttgatgtggt gctcgagaag ggcacgctgg atgccctgct ggctggggaa 420 cgagatccct ggaccgtgtc ctctgaaggt gtccacactg tggaccaggt gttgagtgag 480 gtgggattcc agaaggggac aagacagctg ttaggctcac gcacgcagct ggagctggtc 540 ttagcaggtg cctctctact gctggctgca ctgcttctgg gctgccttgt ggccctaggg 600 gtccagtacc acagagaccc atcccacagc acctgcctta cagaggcctg cattcgagtg 660 gctggaaaaa tcctggagtc cctggaccga ggggtgagcc cctgtgagga cttttaccag 720 ttctcctgtg ggggctggat tcggaggaac cccctgcccg atgggcgttc tcgctggaac 780 accttcaaca gcctctggga ccaaaaccag gccatactga agcacctgct tgaaaacacc 840 accttcaact ccagcagtga agctgagcag aagacacagc gcttctacct atcttgccta 900 caggtggagc gcattgagga gctgggagcc cagccactga gagacctcat tgagaagatt 960 ggtggttgga acattacggg gccctgggac caggacaact ttatggaggt gttgaaggca 1020 gtagcaggga cctacagggc caccccattc ttcaccgtct acatcagtgc tgactctaag 1080 agttccaaca gcaatgttat ccaggtggac cagtctgggc tctttctgcc ctctcgggat 1140 tactacttaa acagaactgc caatgagaaa gtgctcactg cctatctgga ttacatggag 1200 gaactgggga tgctgctggg tgggcggccc acctccacga gggagcagat gcagcaggtg 1260 ctggagttgg agatacagct ggccaacatc acagtgcccc aggaccagcg gcgcgacgag 1320 gagaagatct accacaagat gagcatttcg gagctgcagg ctctggcgcc ctccatggac 1380 tggcttgagt tcctgtcttt cttgctgtca ccattggagt tgagtgactc tgagcctgtg 1440 gtggtgtatg ggatggatta tttgcagcag gtgtcagagc tcatcaaccg cacggaacca 1500 agcatcctga acaattacct gatctggaac ctggtgcaaa agacaacctc aagcctggac 1560 cgacgctttg agtctgcaca agagaagctg ctggagaccc tctatggcac taagaagtcc 1620 tgtgtgccga ggtggcagac ctgcatctcc aacacggatg acgcccttgg ctttgctttg 1680 gggtccctct tcgtgaaggc cacgtttgac cggcaaagca aagaaattgc agaggggatg 1740 atcagcgaaa tccggaccgc atttgaggag gccctgggac agctggtttg gatggatgag 1800 aagacccgcc aggcagccaa ggagaaagca gatgccatct atgatatgat tggtttccca 1860 gactttatcc tggagcccaa agagctggat gatgtttatg acgggtacga aatttctgaa 1920 gattctttct tccaaaacat gttgaatttg tacaacttct ctgccaaggt tatggctgac 1980 cagctccgca agcctcccag ccgagaccag tggagcatga ccccccagac agtgaatgcc 2040 tactaccttc caactaagaa tgagatcgtc ttccccgctg gcatcctgca ggcccccttc 2100 tatgcccgca accaccccaa ggccctgaac ttcggtggca tcggtgtggt catgggccat 2160 gagttgacgc atgcctttga tgaccaaggg cgcgagtatg acaaagaagg gaacctgcgg 2220 ccctggtggc agaatgagtc cctggcagcc ttccggaacc acacggcctg catggaggaa 2280 cagtacaatc aataccaggt caatggggag aggctcaacg gccgccagac gctgggggag 2340 aacattgctg acaacggggg gctgaaggct gcctacaatg cttacaaagc atggctgaga 2400 aagcatgggg aggagcagca actgccagcc gtggggctca ccaaccacca gctcttcttc 2460 gtgggatttg cccaggtgtg gtgctcggtc cgcacaccag agagctctca cgaggggctg 2520 gtgaccgacc cccacagccc tgcccgcttc cgcgtgctgg gcactctctc caactcccgt 2580 gacttcctgc ggcacttcgg ctgccctgtc ggctccccca tgaacccagg gcagctgtgt 2640 gaggtgtggt ag 2652 4 883 PRT homo sapiens 4 Met Ala Ser Pro Gly Ala Gly Arg Ala Pro Pro Glu Leu Pro Glu Arg 1 5 10 15 Asn Cys Gly Tyr Arg Glu Val Glu Tyr Trp Asp Gln Arg Tyr Gln Gly 20 25 30 Ala Ala Asp Ser Ala Pro Tyr Asp Trp Phe Gly Asp Phe Ser Ser Phe 35 40 45 Arg Ala Leu Leu Glu Pro Glu Leu Arg Pro Glu Asp Arg Ile Leu Val 50 55 60 Leu Gly Cys Gly Asn Ser Ala Leu Ser Tyr Glu Leu Phe Leu Gly Gly 65 70 75 80 Phe Pro Asn Val Thr Ser Val Asp Tyr Ser Ser Val Val Val Ala Ala 85 90 95 Met Gln Ala Arg Tyr Ala His Val Pro Gln Leu Arg Trp Glu Thr Met 100 105 110 Asp Val Arg Lys Leu Asp Phe Pro Ser Ala Ser Phe Asp Val Val Leu 115 120 125 Glu Lys Gly Thr Leu Asp Ala Leu Leu Ala Gly Glu Arg Asp Pro Trp 130 135 140 Thr Val Ser Ser Glu Gly Val His Thr Val Asp Gln Val Leu Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Val Gly Phe Gln Lys Gly Thr Arg Gln Leu Leu Gly Ser Arg Thr Gln 165 170 175 Leu Glu Leu Val Leu Ala Gly Ala Ser Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Leu 180 185 190 Leu Gly Cys Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Val Gln Tyr His Arg Asp Pro Ser 195 200 205 His Ser Thr Cys Leu Thr Glu Ala Cys Ile Arg Val Ala Gly Lys Ile 210 215 220 Leu Glu Ser Leu Asp Arg Gly Val Ser Pro Cys Glu Asp Phe Tyr Gln 225 230 235 240 Phe Ser Cys Gly Gly Trp Ile Arg Arg Asn Pro Leu Pro Asp Gly Arg 245 250 255 Ser Arg Trp Asn Thr Phe Asn Ser Leu Trp Asp Gln Asn Gln Ala Ile 260 265 270 Leu Lys His Leu Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Phe Asn Ser Ser Ser Glu Ala 275 280 285 Glu Gln Lys Thr Gln Arg Phe Tyr Leu Ser Cys Leu Gln Val Glu Arg 290 295 300 Ile Glu Glu Leu Gly Ala Gln Pro Leu Arg Asp Leu Ile Glu Lys Ile 305 310 315 320 Gly Gly Trp Asn Ile Thr Gly Pro Trp Asp Gln Asp Asn Phe Met Glu 325 330 335 Val Leu Lys Ala Val Ala Gly Thr Tyr Arg Ala Thr Pro Phe Phe Thr 340 345 350 Val Tyr Ile Ser Ala Asp Ser Lys Ser Ser Asn Ser Asn Val Ile Gln 355 360 365 Val Asp Gln Ser Gly Leu Phe Leu Pro Ser Arg Asp Tyr Tyr Leu Asn 370 375 380 Arg Thr Ala Asn Glu Lys Val Leu Thr Ala Tyr Leu Asp Tyr Met Glu 385 390 395 400 Glu Leu Gly Met Leu Leu Gly Gly Arg Pro Thr Ser Thr Arg Glu Gln 405 410 415 Met Gln Gln Val Leu Glu Leu Glu Ile Gln Leu Ala Asn Ile Thr Val 420 425 430 Pro Gln Asp Gln Arg Arg Asp Glu Glu Lys Ile Tyr His Lys Met Ser 435 440 445 Ile Ser Glu Leu Gln Ala Leu Ala Pro Ser Met Asp Trp Leu Glu Phe 450 455 460 Leu Ser Phe Leu Leu Ser Pro Leu Glu Leu Ser Asp Ser Glu Pro Val 465 470 475 480 Val Val Tyr Gly Met Asp Tyr Leu Gln Gln Val Ser Glu Leu Ile Asn 485 490 495 Arg Thr Glu Pro Ser Ile Leu Asn Asn Tyr Leu Ile Trp Asn Leu Val 500 505 510 Gln Lys Thr Thr Ser Ser Leu Asp Arg Arg Phe Glu Ser Ala Gln Glu 515 520 525 Lys Leu Leu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Gly Thr Lys Lys Ser Cys Val Pro Arg 530 535 540 Trp Gln Thr Cys Ile Ser Asn Thr Asp Asp Ala Leu Gly Phe Ala Leu 545 550 555 560 Gly Ser Leu Phe Val Lys Ala Thr Phe Asp Arg Gln Ser Lys Glu Ile 565 570 575 Ala Glu Gly Met Ile Ser Glu Ile Arg Thr Ala Phe Glu Glu Ala Leu 580 585 590 Gly Gln Leu Val Trp Met Asp Glu Lys Thr Arg Gln Ala Ala Lys Glu 595 600 605 Lys Ala Asp Ala Ile Tyr Asp Met Ile Gly Phe Pro Asp Phe Ile Leu 610 615 620 Glu Pro Lys Glu Leu Asp Asp Val Tyr Asp Gly Tyr Glu Ile Ser Glu 625 630 635 640 Asp Ser Phe Phe Gln Asn Met Leu Asn Leu Tyr Asn Phe Ser Ala Lys 645 650 655 Val Met Ala Asp Gln Leu Arg Lys Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Gln Trp Ser 660 665 670 Met Thr Pro Gln Thr Val Asn Ala Tyr Tyr Leu Pro Thr Lys Asn Glu 675 680 685 Ile Val Phe Pro Ala Gly Ile Leu Gln Ala Pro Phe Tyr Ala Arg Asn 690 695 700 His Pro Lys Ala Leu Asn Phe Gly Gly Ile Gly Val Val Met Gly His 705 710 715 720 Glu Leu Thr His Ala Phe Asp Asp Gln Gly Arg Glu Tyr Asp Lys Glu 725 730 735 Gly Asn Leu Arg Pro Trp Trp Gln Asn Glu Ser Leu Ala Ala Phe Arg 740 745 750 Asn His Thr Ala Cys Met Glu Glu Gln Tyr Asn Gln Tyr Gln Val Asn 755 760 765 Gly Glu Arg Leu Asn Gly Arg Gln Thr Leu Gly Glu Asn Ile Ala Asp 770 775 780 Asn Gly Gly Leu Lys Ala Ala Tyr Asn Ala Tyr Lys Ala Trp Leu Arg 785 790 795 800 Lys His Gly Glu Glu Gln Gln Leu Pro Ala Val Gly Leu Thr Asn His 805 810 815 Gln Leu Phe Phe Val Gly Phe Ala Gln Val Trp Cys Ser Val Arg Thr 820 825 830 Pro Glu Ser Ser His Glu Gly Leu Val Thr Asp Pro His Ser Pro Ala 835 840 845 Arg Phe Arg Val Leu Gly Thr Leu Ser Asn Ser Arg Asp Phe Leu Arg 850 855 860 His Phe Gly Cys Pro Val Gly Ser Pro Met Asn Pro Gly Gln Leu Cys 865 870 875 880 Glu Val Trp 5 985 DNA homo sapiens ggctctggct gcccggcggt tgagagcatg gcctctccag gggcaggtag ggcgcctccg 60 gagttaccgg agcggaactg cgggtaccgc gaagtcgagt actgggatca gcgctaccaa 120 ggcgcagccg attctgcccc ctacgattgg ttcggggact tctcctcctt ccgtgccctc 180 ctagagccgg agctgcggcc cgaggaccgt atccttgtgc taggttgcgg gaacagtgcc 240 ctgagctacg agctgttcct cggaggcttc cctaatgtga ccagtgtgga ctactcatca 300 gtcgtggtgg ctgccatgca ggctcgctat gcccatgtgc cgcagctgcg ctgggagacc 360 atggatgtgc ggaagctgga cttccccagt gcttcttttg atgtggtgct cgagaagggc 420 acgctggatg ccctgctggc tggggaacga gatccctgga ccgtgtcctc tgaaggtgtc 480 cacactgtgg accaggtgtt gagtgaggtg agccgcgtgc ttgtccctgg aggccggttt 540 atctcaatga cttctgctgc cccccacttt cggaccagac actatgccca agcctattat 600 ggctggtccc tgaggcatgc tacctatggc agcggtttcc acttccatct ctacctcatg 660 cacaagggcg ggaagctcag tgtggcccag ctggctctgg gggcccaaat cctctcaccc 720 cccagacctc ccacctcacc ttgcttcctt caggactcag atcatgagga cttccttagt 780 gccattcagc tctgaggcca gagcatggtc ctccaccctt cctgccattc tgccctgggc 840 tcctcaggta gttggaattc ctgacttagg acttggggtt gggtccaagg tgcttacatc 900 ccaggggcct catgcctaag atagagggtg ggagcgaacc cacatgaacc aatacagccc 960 agctccaact aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 985 

What is claimed is:
 1. A substantially isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 